Johns Creek, GA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Code section
- Zoning Ordinance § 4.9.4 (Outdoor Lighting Standards)
- Residential / nature-preserve line limit
- 0.1 foot-candle vertical at 3 ft above grade
- Other property line limit
- 0.5 foot-candle vertical at 3 ft above grade
- Max foot-candles at property line
- 1.0 (residential/ag); 1.5 (office/commercial/industrial)
- Flood/spot lamp aim
- No higher than 45 degrees above straight down when visible off-site
- Security lighting
- No glare/light into neighbors or ROW; no off-property triggering (§ 4.9.5.C)
Summary
Johns Creek's Night Sky Ordinance (Section 4.9.4.B) limits light trespass at a residential or nature-preserve property line to 0.1 foot-candle vertical (measured 3 ft above grade) and 0.5 foot-candle at other property lines. Flood/spot lamps must point no higher than 45 degrees above straight down when visible off-site, and security lighting may not glare onto neighbors.
B. Shall be located, aimed or shielded to allow light trespass (spill light) at a residential or nature preserve property line not to exceed 0.1 foot-candles vertical at 3 feet above grade. Light trespass at other property lines shall not exceed 0.5 foot-candles vertical at 3 feet above grade ... C. Flood or spot lamps must be positioned no higher than 45 degrees above straight down (half-way between the vertical and the horizontal) when the source is visible from any off-site residential property or public roadway.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
4 of the Zoning Ordinance's Night Sky provisions. 5 foot-candle vertical at 3 feet above grade. 5 where abutting office/institutional or commercial/industrial uses. Subsection C requires flood or spot lamps to be positioned no higher than 45 degrees above straight down (halfway between vertical and horizontal) when the source is visible from any off-site residential property or public roadway. Subsection D requires shielded fixtures to be installed and maintained so the shielding remains effective. C governs security lighting: it must be directed toward the targeted area, and sensor-activated lighting must be positioned to prevent direct glare and lighting into others' properties or a public right-of-way, and not be triggered by off-property activity. F). Georgia has no statewide light-trespass statute, so these local standards govern.
Violations & Fines
Lighting that spills onto a neighbor above the 0.1 or 0.5 foot-candle limits, flood/spot lamps aimed too high, or security lighting that glares onto adjacent property or a right-of-way is non-conforming and subject to code-enforcement correction. Compliance plans and photometric data are required before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued (Section 4.9.7), and relief requires a Board of Zoning Appeals variance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light spill onto a neighbor is allowed in Johns Creek?
Can my neighbor's floodlight shine into my yard?
How is light trespass measured in Johns Creek?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johns Creek
Compare Johns Creek to another location·View the Georgia outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle light trespass & shielding.